"Pray let us finish with
the subject of the choir treat. Then we shall be free to talk about more
interesting things."
Miss Bilson waved her hands hysterically.
"No--no--I never wish to mention it again. I am too deeply hurt by your
behaviour to me, Damaris--your sarcasm.--Of course," she added, "I see I
must withdraw my offer. It will cause the greatest inconvenience and
disappointment; but for that I cannot hold myself responsible, though it
will be most painful and embarrassing to me after the kind appreciation I
have received. Still I must withdraw it"--
"Withdraw what offer?"
"Why the offer I was explaining to you just now, when you ordered the
maids out of the room. You really cannot deny that you heard what I said,
Damaris, because you mentioned the carriage horses yourself."
Theresa sipped some water. She was recovering if not her temper, yet her
grasp on the main issue. She wanted, so desperately, to achieve her
purpose and, incidentally, to continue to play, both for her own benefit
and that of the parish, her self-elected role of Lady Bountiful, of
"official representative of The Hard"--as Dr.
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